Howe Runs Last Cross Country Race at Nationals

Mackenzie Howe, a cross-country runner from Kennesaw State University, ran her final race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terra Haute, Indiana. Although she did not run the best race of her career, it took running her best to get there.

Men's Team Place 9th at NCAA Regional Championship

By: Steven Murray

Mackenzie Howe’s final race at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on November 22 was bittersweet. Bitter because it was her last cross-country race for Kennesaw State University and sweet because it was her first NCAA Cross Country Championship.

Howe qualified for the meet at the South Regional Championship in Hoover, Alabama on November 13. Making it the Championship is a challenge because only 4 individuals qualify in the region. With this season being her last cross-country season the accomplishment could not have come at a better time.

“I don’t think it has hit me yet that I am done,” said Howe. “When track season is over with it will make being done with collegiate running more surreal.”

What Howe is referring to is the second sport that she competes in, track and field. She runs indoor and outdoor track and field in the spring to prepare for the cross-country season in the fall.

Training

Howe’s training for the race began in the early summer months of May and June when she would run up to 90 miles per week. In October and November, with the NCAA Championship lingering closer ahead, she centered her training around doing short runs that were quicker.

“I focused on the shorter and faster intervals, 400 meter intervals, helped me develop a stronger kick. But also doing longer intervals like 2000m was helpful for me because the race was longer than our usual 5k,” said Howe.

The Race

Howe place 108^th in the field beating out over half of the runners in the race. With this race being her first NCAA Championship, the large number of competitive runners distracted her from establishing a good position early in the race.

“I did not get the start I wanted because I got boxed in and was basically going with the flow for the first half mile,” said Howe. “If I could do it over, I would have tried to go out harder at the start.”

Qualifying

Qualifying for the race is no easy task, Howe jockeyed for position early in the South Regional race before battling to finish 8^th place overall. The top 4 individuals to cross the finish line who were not members of a qualifying team would earn an automatic bid to Nationals. Howe was the third individual to cross the line.

“So great for the whole program,” said Sims. “She is the definition of a perfect student-athlete, she deserves this. Its been a pleasure coaching Mackenzie.”